Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13) - Lao People's Democratic Republic (Ratification: 1964)

1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report and notes with interest the adoption of the Law on Hygiene, Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (Law No. 01/A of 2001). However, the Committee notes that no information has been provided regarding its previous comment requesting information on the manner in which the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare cooperate with the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft in matters related to occupational safety and health. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to explain the manner in which the abovementioned ministries cooperate.

2. With reference to a previous comment, in which the Committee noted the Government’s intention to set up a special inspection commission to carry out safety, health and economic inspection in enterprises which were to be composed of eight representative agencies concerned, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the provisions establishing this special inspection commission, its organization and working methods. It also requests the Government to specify the eight agencies, which will be represented in this commission.

3. In yet another comments made in 1994, the Committee had noted the Government’s indication that many big projects were now being run by foreign investors, including construction and maintenance work. It noted that a safety and health decree would be drafted and that ILO technical assistance had been already received in this regard. The Committee also noted the Government’s indication that a safety and health decree would be drafted, which were to include regulations concerning the use of white lead. The Committee also notes that, according to the most recent information provided, work is under way to revise the current Labour Law (Act No. 002/NA of 14 March 1997) and that, as a potential consequence thereof, an enactment of legislation related to the present Convention might be considered. The Committee reiterates its firm hope that the safety and health decree will be drafted in the very near future and that it will contain such provisions to ensure that effect is given to the following provisions of the Convention: Article 1 (prohibition of the use of white lead and sulphate of lead in the internal painting of buildings); Article 2 (regulation of the use of white lead in artistic painting); Article 3 (prohibition of the employment of young persons under 18 years of age and all females in any painting work involving the use of white lead); Article 5 (regulation of the use of white lead in painting operations for which its use is not prohibited); and Article 7 (establishment of statistics of morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning).